Simena - Ancient Site near the Village of Kaleköy

Friday, 09 January 2026 00:00
Written by Portal Editor

Simena - The Mediterranean Village Dancing under the Shade of History! Kaleköy village, which is accessible only by boat or on foot, is is located between Kaş and Demre.

The Mediterranean village of Kaleköy was built upon the foundations of the ancient Lycian city of Simena, but it also retains remnants from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.

A truly beautiful place of natural beauty, with crystal-clear, sapphire-blue waters and historical ruins, some even underwater.

From inscriptions that have been discovered, we know that the history of the ancient city of Kaleköy (Simena) dates back to the 4th century BC.

If we climb the hill of Simena behind the houses, we reach Simena Castle.

This castle was built by the Byzantines in late antiquity.

Simena Castle offers visitors a breathtaking view of the surrounding area.

Within the medieval walls are the remains of an ancient temple, as well as a small amphitheater hewn into the rock.

The small theater has a capacity of up to 300 spectators.

This is the smallest of the theaters in the cities of Lycia. To the west of the theater are rock tombs.

In front of the rock tombs is a Roman wall with reliefs from three different periods.

On the shore are the ruins of the public baths, whose inscriptions are still legible and read: “A gift to Emperor Titus, from the people and council of Aperlai, as well as from the other cities of the League.”

The Lycian sarcophagus at the harbor, half-submerged, is a frequently used motif in tourist promotional videos.